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Kimoto Y1,2, Satake M3, Wakasa M3, Iwasawa S3, Kikuchi K3, Suzuki R4, Momiyama H1, Taguchi S1, Yoshizaki K1
1Akita Rehabilitation College, Department of Physical Therapy, Akita, Japan, 2Research Institute for Brain and Blood Vessels-Akita, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Akita, Japan, 3Akita University, Graduate School of Health Science, Department of Physical Therapy, Akita, Japan, 4Ogachi-Chuo Hospital, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yuzawa, Japan
Background: Consensus based on previous studies holds that dynamic stretching (DS), 'controlled movement through the active range of motion', is more beneficial than static stretching for improving strength and flexibility. A study the effects of 8 weeks of dynamic stretching in young soccer players revealed improving in jump power and flexibility (Turki et al., 2012). However, in elderly individuals, there is little information on the long-term physical effect of DS on frailty or fall prevention.
Purpose: The present study aimed to examine the long-term effect of DS in community-dwelling elderly adults on strength, flexibility, balance, and walking speed.
Methods: Participants comprised 10 female community-dwelling elderly adults (mean age (± SD), 79.3 ± 4.9 years). Knee extension strength, grip strength, muscle hardness of the gastrocnemius, timed up and go test (TUG), one leg standing time and 5-meter maximum walk speed (5mMWS) were measured. Measurements were conducted before DS exercises (Before), after 4 weeks (week 4), 8 weeks (week 8) and 12 weeks (week 12; 4 weeks after the DS exercises ended). All subjects participated in DS exercises for 8 weeks as daily home exercise which consisted of 12 repetitions at a rhythm of 10 beats/min of movement through an active range of motion for each joint; for example, hip flexion-extension; hip abduction-adduction; knee flexion-extension; and ankle dorsi-plantar flexion. A repeated measure ANOVA (Before vs. week 4 vs. week 8 vs. week 12) followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison test was used to analyze the measured data.
Results: No subjects dropped out and no negative experiences or opinions of the exercise were reported. Knee extension strength increased at week 8 significantly (p=0.02). Muscle hardness of the gastrocnemius decreased at week 4 (p 0.01) and week 8 (p 0.01). TUG time decreased at week 8 (p=0.02). 5mMWS increased at week 4 (p=0.02) and week 8 (p=0.03). However, no significant difference in grip strength or one leg standing time was observed. Additionally, there were no significant differences between Before and week 12 values for all of measurements.
Conclusion(s): Eight weeks of DS as daily home exercise for community-dwelling elderly adults improved knee extension strength, muscle hardness of the gastrocnemius, TUG and 5mMWS. Further studies should be devised to compare DS as home exercise against other fall-prevention programs.
Implications: These results suggest that 8 weeks of DS exercise improve strength, flexibility and walking speed in community-dwelling elderly adult.
Keywords: Dynamic stretching, community-dwelling elderly adults, strength
Funding acknowledgements: This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP17K18340.
Purpose: The present study aimed to examine the long-term effect of DS in community-dwelling elderly adults on strength, flexibility, balance, and walking speed.
Methods: Participants comprised 10 female community-dwelling elderly adults (mean age (± SD), 79.3 ± 4.9 years). Knee extension strength, grip strength, muscle hardness of the gastrocnemius, timed up and go test (TUG), one leg standing time and 5-meter maximum walk speed (5mMWS) were measured. Measurements were conducted before DS exercises (Before), after 4 weeks (week 4), 8 weeks (week 8) and 12 weeks (week 12; 4 weeks after the DS exercises ended). All subjects participated in DS exercises for 8 weeks as daily home exercise which consisted of 12 repetitions at a rhythm of 10 beats/min of movement through an active range of motion for each joint; for example, hip flexion-extension; hip abduction-adduction; knee flexion-extension; and ankle dorsi-plantar flexion. A repeated measure ANOVA (Before vs. week 4 vs. week 8 vs. week 12) followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison test was used to analyze the measured data.
Results: No subjects dropped out and no negative experiences or opinions of the exercise were reported. Knee extension strength increased at week 8 significantly (p=0.02). Muscle hardness of the gastrocnemius decreased at week 4 (p 0.01) and week 8 (p 0.01). TUG time decreased at week 8 (p=0.02). 5mMWS increased at week 4 (p=0.02) and week 8 (p=0.03). However, no significant difference in grip strength or one leg standing time was observed. Additionally, there were no significant differences between Before and week 12 values for all of measurements.
Conclusion(s): Eight weeks of DS as daily home exercise for community-dwelling elderly adults improved knee extension strength, muscle hardness of the gastrocnemius, TUG and 5mMWS. Further studies should be devised to compare DS as home exercise against other fall-prevention programs.
Implications: These results suggest that 8 weeks of DS exercise improve strength, flexibility and walking speed in community-dwelling elderly adult.
Keywords: Dynamic stretching, community-dwelling elderly adults, strength
Funding acknowledgements: This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP17K18340.
Topic: Older people; Musculoskeletal
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Akita University Graduate School of Health Sciences
Ethics committee: the Akita University Graduate School of Health Sciences
Ethics number: 1397
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
